A few weeks back I saw an 87 GN engine on ebay, and I got to thinking is it possible to put the RWD GN engine into my FWD 95 Lesabre, I dont know much about the layout of the GN's 3800, but any information on where motor mounts are, bolt patterns on the transmission, what transmissions will work, if i need a new computer, etc, would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Ron
BIG Project.
FWD has totally different bellhousing pattern, starter on the other side, different ECM, different wiring, different sensors, different heads (and hence needs custom headers), on center block, etc.
Pretty much a major fabrication hassle
I am aware that it is gonna be a big job, but I need specifications of the GN's 3800. What transmissions does it bolt to? Are there any FWD transmissions that WILL work? I had figured that I would need a different computer, and wireing harness. But this is something that I would REALLY like to do.
Thanks
I guess that's the point. They are totally different. The 3800 was a new generation. About the only thing compatible is the plug wires
SO... the GN has RWD 3.8 block with the BOP pattern found in theh 200R4, some dual pattern THM350s, the BOP THM350s, the BOP/dual pattern 200Cs (junk), and BOPTHM400s.
The 3800 has the corporate FWD pattern found in the THM440T and so on. Any FWD trans would probably be marginal for the GN torque, but could possibly be made to adapt with an adapter plate of some type. The deck is also taller on the block, so it's going to require more width/clearance.
You might want to consider going with swapping in a Series II 3800 with the supercharger. Things should bolt up better, fit better and you can get a take out from a few place (I think John Spina of Casper's has a few complete drivetrains on pallets!)
Ron,
From the reading and my understanding of it all, it'd be just as easy to put a small block Chevy drivetrain in there and making it rear wheel drive. True I did see in one of the recent car magazines some guy had taken a (rather new) FWD Olds and made it RWD and SBC powered. I think also with that, you'd have to do something to the body, like make a frame or subframe connectors of some kind to locate the rearend and to keep it from tearing apart. I have thought about doing as Ken said, if I had the time, money, and extra energy, of putting a 3800 w/supercharger into a Beretta. That would be a great project because it wouldn't require almost complete fabrication of the car and it would be a real sleeper I would think. I've almost even wondered about just getting the supercharger/intake/injectors and bolting them on an existing 3800 in a Beretta(if that's even the engine it has), don't know if it'd work and of course the wiring harness part would be fun, but it's just a thought. Especially since I don't have any of those parts OR a Beretta.
Not to mention the time, money, or extra energy.
The Beretta probably has some derivative of the 60 degree Chebby V6 (2.8, 3.1, 3.4). Different animal than the Buick 90 degree V6.
David Buckshaw used to put Supercharged 3800 drivetrains in Centurys to make a 13 second sleeper! There's a parts list on the web page that he put together telling what he used to do it. He pretty much put the whole transaxle/motor in the Century body.
I looked into putting a GTP engine into my lesabre, but the GTP engines are sooo underpowered that I didnt think it'd be worth it. Granted that it might be easier, but I want the power that the GN's engine produces. I guess that the flywheel on the GTP's supercharger could be upgraded, but I would also need the computer, wiring harness, transmission, plus the engine (which b.t.w. are very hard to come by)but it might be a bit easier... then again I cant say "yeah i have a GN engine under the hood."
You really could say that though. They did produce a lesabre grand national for a year or two. It didn't have the same engine as the other GNs, I believe it only had the standard 3800 engine in it. You wouldn't be lying, you just wouldn't be talking about the typical GN engine,;)
Ummmm... the supercharged 3800 Series II put out 245 HP (coincidentally the same as the rated HP as the GN). It's pushed my wife's '98 Supercharged Regal GS (bone stock except for a 3" pulley and K&N stock replacement filter) to 14.70s on street tires. The car is probably 3700-3800 lbs.
I guess I don't consider that underpowered.
Like I said before, contact John Spina (and maybe Gino Rinaldi?) I think they have complete take outs ... everything you need for a transplant of the FWD version.
It's my opinion that it's LESS of a job than putting the RWD 3.8 into that vehicle.
Ok, well where can I get ahold of John Spina? Then I can see whats up with him...
www.casperselectronics.com
ok, speaking of the supercharged engines... my friend has a 97 grand prix gt, and i saw at caspers that they have the superchargers for the 3800 series II, can my friend just bolt the supercharger on, or is there a lot more to making it work?
It's probably a bit more complex than that, but as long as it's the 3800 in it, I'd bet it could be done fairly straight forward...accessories and pulleys, maybe wiring harness, PCM, probably injectors....
I talked to John, and they dont have any more in stock... do you know where else I may look?